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The much-awaited ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will begin on June 1 (Saturday). This will be the first time that 20 teams will be competing in one tournament. The tournament will be divided into three stages. It will start with 20 teams in group stages, which will be followed by the Super 8 and then the knockouts. The final will take place on June 29. The opening encounter will be played between two debutants.
It will be a clash between Canada and the hosts, the USA, on Saturday at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. Canada will be playing their first ICC event since 2011. All-rounder Saad Bin Zafar has been given the responsibility to lead the team. They are in Group A with India, Pakistan, the USA, and Ireland. So let’s do the SWOT analysis of Canada for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Squad: Saad Zafar (captain), Aaron Johnson, Junaid Siddiqui, Nicholas Kirton, Navneet Dhaliwal, Pargat Singh, Dilon Heyliger, Dilpreet Bajwa, Jeremy Gordon, Shreyas Movva, Ravinderpal Singh, Rayyankhan Pathan, Kaleem Sana, Nikhil Dutta, Rishiv Joshi.
Travelling Reserve: Tajinder Singh
Canada’s Strength for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
1. Explosive batting order
Unlike other Associate Nations, Canada have a strong middle order. Navneet Dhaliwal and Nicholas Kirton are the two main pillars of the batting order. Navneet is one of the highest run-getters among the Associate Nation players and has loads of experience. Opener Aaron Johnson is another strong aspect of the batting order. He has an average of over 50 and a strike rate of over 165 in T20Is, which is very rare to see.
2. Experienced All-rounders
One of the best things about an associate nation is that they always have players who can contribute with bat and ball. That’s how Canada will also feature in the T20 World Cup 2024. This team has 7-8 players who can contribute in both departments, and guess what? Most of them are regulars in the playing XI. Just think about how long batting order they will have and so many bowling options are just a luxury for any captain.
Canada’s Weaknesses for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
1. Less Experience of playing against Big Teams
Canada plays the T20I format very little. Since making their debut in 2008, they have played only 58 T20Is, which is roughly 4 games a year. That is not what your team should be doing. They have played more ODIs than T20Is, so adjusting according to the format might be a challenge for them.
2. Placed in a Strong Group
Going forward in a big tournament also depends on which group you are in. But Canada aren’t that lucky, as they have been placed in a group that has three test-playing nations and a host. India and Pakistan are likely to do well. Ireland will be a tough challenge after the way they are performing, and then the USA, who have recently beaten Bangladesh. So, Canada might feel a bit unlucky as well.
Threat for Canada in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
The biggest worry for this team is that they might go into the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 underprepared. They played their last international series in March. Their structure is not developed, which is one reason for their failure. Hence, the team needs to fight against all the odds in the coming competition.
Opportunities Ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Though most of the things are against Canada, they can be taken in a positive way. This is their debut edition, and they can make it memorable by doing well. It looks difficult to qualify in this group, but they can certainly show some courage to compete. It will help them grow and will force their cricket board to invest more in this game.
Strongest Playing XI for Canada in ICC T20 World Cup 2024 (Predicted)
Aaron Johnson, Navneet Dhaliwal, Pargat Singh, Harsh Thaker, Nicholas Kirton, Srimantha Wijeyeratne (wk), Saad Bin Zafar (c), Dilpreet Singh, Rishiv Raghav Joshi, Dillon Heyliger, Udhaya Bhagwan
